The following is a collection of resources that are provided to assist the reader in making decisions regarding the evaluation, purchasing, and upgrading of technology in a school or school district. The information/links provided have been collected to address the following questions:
When buying new equipment or software, what processes and analytical techniques do school organizations employ to help them choose between different products?
Are there resources available that review/suggest the use of software/hardware for educational purposes?
What is an effective way to assess the needs of a district or specific program if the staff is often unaware of possible options?
How do you handle systems that are geared toward one group over another? (ex. designed for secondary but elementary still must use it)
What state laws apply to purchasing? (ie. when must a purchase go to bid?) When can and should the state purchasing contract be used?
Minnetonka, MN - Software that is installed on every computer is listed, as well as a request form which includes planned out use for the requested software.
Although Stillwater does not have a formal set of plans, procedures, or considerations when deciding upon new soft/hardware, the Technology Plan serves to guide all technology purchases for the district.
Apple - Education
Although the purpose of this website is arguably to get you to purchase Apple products, this is also a good resource for teachers who are interested in identifying new ways to use technology (specifically Apple-Brand technologies) to assist students and teachers.
California Learning Resource:
The California Learning Resource Network is a database of standards-aligned software, video and Internet learning resources. The resources are broken into three categories: Electronic Learning Resources (ELRs), Web Information Links (WILs), and Electronic Learning Assessment Resources (ELARs). Sponsored by the California Department of Education, CLRN trains educators with specific content experience to review electronic resources and report on its effectiveness. All reviewers have minimum number of years of experience as teachers. The database is searchable by CA state standard or by grade or subject area. It does not make recommendations but allows for comparisons between multiple resources.
CoSN Technology Project Cost Estimator
This is CoSN's Value of Investment tool. It assists districts in assessing an investment in technology. It is based on two components: cost and qualitative benefits. It provides tools for figuring costs and savings. Most useful seems to be the
, a spreadsheet to help measure the qualitative benefits of an investment. It looks at everything from student achievement, equity, behavior, curricula enhancement, political value, and 21st century skills to impact on teachers and staff.
The Digital Classroom
This is an instructional technology database. It reviews instructional software and websites. It is unclear who the reviewers are. However, it appears that this is a website put together by a professor at KU, who uses it to teach instructional technology. I think the reviewers are students who are asked to review the software as part of their coursework. The search mechanism doesn't appear to work very well. No matter what I searched for, it brought up all 308 reviews. Still, by scrolling down I was able to find some notable software worth reviewing.
Discovery School Resources
This is directory of education technology resources designed to help K-12 systems dealing with technology planning, critical evaluation, and the impact of technology on their programs and curriculum.
Early Connections
Provides descriptions of useful technology to assist the education of children from "child care" age through 3rd grade.
Evalutech
Evalutech is a project from the Southern Regional Education Board and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. It reviews over 10,000 software and print resources. Clicking on Search Evalutech Reviews on the left sidebar, you can type in keywords, grade levels, subject areas, etc... to find a list of reviewed print and nonprint media. Click on each individual one to read the review.
Metiri Group
The Metiri Group is a for profit organization that has created a database that reviews districts that have used software and done studies on the results. They compile the data and make it available for a fee. If you pay the fee ($500/year for up to 10 schools), you can search their database and read studies on how the software impacted student education. All software is broken down into three categories: Promising, Inconclusive, and Can Not Recommend.
Minnesota educators have access through a state license. To find out how to access it, contact Marla Davenport at davenpo@ties.k12.mn.us.
Milken Family Foundation
This is a report written by the Center for Research on the Education of Students Placed At Risk. It is partially funded by the Department of Education.The report discusses issues related to student data warehousing and data driven decision making, including reviews of data warehousing software. It bases their analysis on 5 main areas:
1. User friendliness- intuitive, efficient, requires little training
2. User features- data can be accessed from anywhere, drill down features are flexible, comprehensive query tools
3. Information Access- access is fast, flexible, clear
4. Creating and Sustaining Quality Data- proper security, easy expansion, accepts multiple formats
5. Additional Features- exports to multiple formats, student portfolio features available
In addition, there are reviews of specific software programs.
SuperKids
SuperKids is a software review site published by a privately held company, Knowledge Share LLC. It claims to be impartial and does not accept advertising. Reviews are written by teams of teachers, parents, kids, and research experts. They include a link to their assessment form. The review includes information about its educational value, kid appeal, ease of use, system requirements, and an overview of the software.
Books
Assessing the needs of a district or program can take several different forms. To get an overview of the competencies that a particular district/program may possess, one could access a variety of surveys produced by ISTE Publications and is available in the National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers: Resources for Assessment (2003). (Available at ISTE.org)
Resources for Evaluation
Matt Robinson, Dave Zukor, Cindy WaltersThe following is a collection of resources that are provided to assist the reader in making decisions regarding the evaluation, purchasing, and upgrading of technology in a school or school district. The information/links provided have been collected to address the following questions:
Districts
Organization Links
- Summary of White Papers: A case for technology supported learning for Arizona Kindergarten through High School (K-12)
>> Summary of White PapersAdditional Resources
Apple - EducationAlthough the purpose of this website is arguably to get you to purchase Apple products, this is also a good resource for teachers who are interested in identifying new ways to use technology (specifically Apple-Brand technologies) to assist students and teachers.
California Learning Resource:
The California Learning Resource Network is a database of standards-aligned software, video and Internet learning resources. The resources are broken into three categories: Electronic Learning Resources (ELRs), Web Information Links (WILs), and Electronic Learning Assessment Resources (ELARs). Sponsored by the California Department of Education, CLRN trains educators with specific content experience to review electronic resources and report on its effectiveness. All reviewers have minimum number of years of experience as teachers. The database is searchable by CA state standard or by grade or subject area. It does not make recommendations but allows for comparisons between multiple resources.
CoSN Technology Project Cost Estimator
This is CoSN's Value of Investment tool. It assists districts in assessing an investment in technology. It is based on two components: cost and qualitative benefits. It provides tools for figuring costs and savings. Most useful seems to be the
The Digital Classroom
This is an instructional technology database. It reviews instructional software and websites. It is unclear who the reviewers are. However, it appears that this is a website put together by a professor at KU, who uses it to teach instructional technology. I think the reviewers are students who are asked to review the software as part of their coursework. The search mechanism doesn't appear to work very well. No matter what I searched for, it brought up all 308 reviews. Still, by scrolling down I was able to find some notable software worth reviewing.
Discovery School Resources
This is directory of education technology resources designed to help K-12 systems dealing with technology planning, critical evaluation, and the impact of technology on their programs and curriculum.
Early Connections
Provides descriptions of useful technology to assist the education of children from "child care" age through 3rd grade.
Evalutech
Evalutech is a project from the Southern Regional Education Board and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. It reviews over 10,000 software and print resources. Clicking on Search Evalutech Reviews on the left sidebar, you can type in keywords, grade levels, subject areas, etc... to find a list of reviewed print and nonprint media. Click on each individual one to read the review.
Metiri Group
The Metiri Group is a for profit organization that has created a database that reviews districts that have used software and done studies on the results. They compile the data and make it available for a fee. If you pay the fee ($500/year for up to 10 schools), you can search their database and read studies on how the software impacted student education. All software is broken down into three categories: Promising, Inconclusive, and Can Not Recommend.
Minnesota educators have access through a state license. To find out how to access it, contact Marla Davenport at davenpo@ties.k12.mn.us.
Microsoft - Education
Provides a variety of resources for educators and students.
Milken Family Foundation
This is a report written by the Center for Research on the Education of Students Placed At Risk. It is partially funded by the Department of Education.The report discusses issues related to student data warehousing and data driven decision making, including reviews of data warehousing software. It bases their analysis on 5 main areas:
1. User friendliness- intuitive, efficient, requires little training
2. User features- data can be accessed from anywhere, drill down features are flexible, comprehensive query tools
3. Information Access- access is fast, flexible, clear
4. Creating and Sustaining Quality Data- proper security, easy expansion, accepts multiple formats
5. Additional Features- exports to multiple formats, student portfolio features available
In addition, there are reviews of specific software programs.
SuperKids
SuperKids is a software review site published by a privately held company, Knowledge Share LLC. It claims to be impartial and does not accept advertising. Reviews are written by teams of teachers, parents, kids, and research experts. They include a link to their assessment form. The review includes information about its educational value, kid appeal, ease of use, system requirements, and an overview of the software.
Books
Assessing the needs of a district or program can take several different forms. To get an overview of the competencies that a particular district/program may possess, one could access a variety of surveys produced by ISTE Publications and is available in the National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers: Resources for Assessment (2003). (Available at ISTE.org)